To feel rage about what my friends employer is doing to her?

[MrsTawdry]

She's a lone parent...in her 20s and works at an expensive private nursery part time. She does two days regularly and the nursery charge her for her DDs time there (in a different room to the one in which my friend works)

Anyway...she told me a few weeks ago that the manager offered her another day off the books and free care for DD that day...for...the grand sum of TWENTY QUID cash in hand.



AIBU to feel such rage?

This employer is taking the piss in the worst possible way.

She knows that twenty pounds is a lot to my friend...and she took the offer.

So she's working for 8 hours a day for £2.50 an hour!??

I think my friend regrets it now. She says she's getting the extra money at the end of the month...so it will feel like it was worth it as to her that's an extra 80 quid or whatever...but still...is this as wrong as I think it is? Exploitation?

[WorraLiberty]

How much would the childcare have cost if it wasn't free that day?

[MrsTawdry]

I'm not entirely sure but don't see how that's relevant?

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

Vile Exploitation, I agree.

I've been there though, a lone parent desperate for extra cash working all hours at a sales job with no basic pay. Business owner driving a big fancy car, swanning into office once a week, expecting a coffee in his hand within seconds of arriving. Not giving a shit if pay cheques were a week, or two, late...

[MrsTawdry]

I just checked. It would be £41 for a day.

[ACSlater]

It's relevant because if she paid her in full your friend would then have to pay in full.

[Snapespotions]

Yes, how much would the childcare have cost?

The cash in hand thing is dodgy. Presumably the point was to avoid tax?

[wowfudge]

Because the £20 is the day rate for the job minus the cost of her childcare for the day?

[wowfudge]

That's not clear - £20 is the balance left after childcare is subtracted.

[ACSlater]

So its about £8 an hour

[notonyourninny]

How much does she earn usually after childcare? I would of thought she got 50% off anyway?

[KatherinaMinola]

That could get them closed down.

[Snapespotions]

Sorry x post.

So effectively, she was paid £61 tax free but spent most of it on childcare.

£41 per day sounds a lot for childcare - doesn't she get a staff discount?

[wowfudge]

Cash in hand is only dodgy if there is no wage slip and no tax and NI deducted by the employer.

[MrsTawdry]

no...she gets more than 20 at the end of her proper working days...even with childcare. She must pay less than the ordinary customers...she'd never get by or work for 20 quid and she told me this 20 pounds was less than she'd normally get.

[bettyboop1970]

YANB . That is blatant exploitation of your friends circumstances. They should be reported to Ofsted.

[DoJo]

Because the £20 is the day rate for the job minus the cost of her childcare for the day?

But she wouldn't need childcare if she wasn't there that day, so presumably they pay her more than that on the days when she is employed officially and paying for the place separately. In which case the difference between what she's normally paid and this offer of £20 is more to the point.

Also, from a legal standpoint - is their insurance valid if she's not 'really' there? I mean, how would the nursery stand if she injured herself or a child was injured in her care on the day when she's off the books?

[MrsTawdry]

Snape cross post. No...she was paid 20 in cash...off the books. Normally she earns more than that! She works 2 scheduled days...and I expect pays a subsidised fee for her DD...she expressed some anger at the offer of 20 quid but felt like she had no alternative.

Wow there is no tax and ni. It's in hand...at the end of the month.

[MrsTawdry]

DoJo Exactly. Thank you.

I feel like they're behaving abominably.

[MrsTawdry]

They obviously need an extra staff member on that day....but won't employ her properly! To save themselves what really amounts to pennies compared to what they must make!

[Snapespotions]

Well, yes, I know cash in hand wouldn't be dodgy if the employer does it properly, but I'm assuming that there isn't a wage slip for this amount, as they would have to factor in the cost of childcare on top - otherwise she would be getting way below the minimum wage. Somehow I doubt that they're paying tax and NI in this situation.

[Snapespotions]

Aargh x post again!!

[MrsTawdry]

I am sure she said she pays somewhat less than an ordinary customer for her DD but can't remember how much.

But....she in no way works her regular 2 days for 20 quid a day. Even with childcare costs.

[natureplantar101]

How is £2.50 an hr even legal Min wage is £6.50 for me even working in childcare with a discount her wage wouldn't amount to £2.50 an hr

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

Off the books, she won't benefit from the NI paid for the hours worked, or for any adjustment to tax credits that would otherwise be possible etc. It's just not fair.

[mimishimmi]

She shouldn't have accepted. If it's all she ends up with anyway after paying childcare costs, it's possible the employer might have thought they are doing her a favour tax-wise.